Rick Pitino extortion case AP Photo Darron Cummings
Former Providence College basketball coach Rick Pitino could take the stand today and testify in the Karen Cunagin Sypher extortion case.
Sypher’s trial began Monday. She is accused of trying to extort University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino, allegedly demanding college tuition for her children, having her house paid off and $10 million for her silence.
In opening statements Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kuhn said Sypher lied repeatedly in an attempt to extort millions from Pitino, then traded sexual favors and lied again to cover up her crime. Kuhn told jurors Sypher threatened to ruin Pitino's reputation with false allegations of rape and forced abortion.
Prosecutors say they plan to use multiple witnesses, secretly recorded conversations and testimony from Pitino to prove Sypher is guilty. Sypher has pleaded not guilty. The lawyer for University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino says he may testify this afternoon or Wednesday in the case of a woman accused of trying to extort him. Pitino was not at the trial Monday.
AP Photo by Darron Cummings A Kentucky woman, Karen Sypher, allegedly tried to extort more than $10 million from Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino after the two had a sexual encounter in 2003. The trial against Sypher began Monday.
Comments